Dispensing device



Sept. 18, 1928. I,

4 ,623 C. W.- HARTWIG nrsrnnsme when Filed Dec. 2, 1927 Patented Sept. 18, 1928.

I 1 1,584,623 PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES w. HARTWIG', or HASTINGS nroN nUnsoN, NEW YORK.

DISPENSING nnv'rcn.

Application filed. December 2, 1927. Serial No. 237,174.

This invention relates generally to a dispensing device and particularly to a device for dispensing condii'nents such as pepper and salt.

A primary object of the invention is the provision of such a device with means for automatically closing the same.

' Another primary object is the provision of a dispensing device with means for agitating the contents thereof to facilitate its flow.

Still another object is to provide a dispensing device that is convenient to handle, economical to manufacture, positive in action and pleasing in appearance.

Other objects and advantages of the improved device will in part be pointed out and in part be obvious from the description to follow taken in connection with the accomshown in- Figure 1 taken on the plane indi cated by the line 22 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a detail showing a modified form of cap retaining means.

Referring to the figures of the drawing in detail, my improved device consists of a base 10 formed of metal, glass or other suitable substance and having a cutout portion 11 underneath the same. The upper surface of said base 10 is formed with a recess 12 on either side of its center, which recesses are roundedin configuration to form an arc of a circle. Formed in each of said recesses 12 and communicating with the recess 11 is an opening 13. Suitably secured to the base 10 at its central portion by soldering or otherwise is an upstanding bifurcated handle 1 1 terminating in a ring 15 for convenience in handling. Passing between the central portion of the base and the bifurcated ends of the handle 14 is a pin 16. Mounted on said pin 16 is a spring member comprising a middle bent over portion 17 adapted to engage the pin 16 and. a flat arm portion 18 on each side of said middle bent over portion 17, said arm portions being slightly curved longitudinally thereof and terminating in pointed ends. The said arm portions 18 are normally dis posed at an acute angle to the axis of the base. Soldered or otherwise s-ecured'to each of said arm portions 18 is a cylindrical container 19 here illustrated as made of metal but which may be made of glass or other suitable substance. Said containers 19 are formed with rounded bottom ends similar in configuration to the configuration of the recesses 12, and with opened upper ends having exteriorly threaded'edges 20. The bottom ends are provided with a port or opening 21 disposed to one side of the axis of the container. A cap 22 provided with interior threads is screwed on to the opened end of each container to close the same, and said cap is provided with a groove portion 23 similar in shape to the shape of the finger of is operated.

In using theimproved device, each container 19 is normally disposed in the same position as the container 19 at the right of Figure 2, with its rounded bottom end bearing against the curved surface of the recess 12 and with its port 21 bl0cked bysaid surface of the recess 12 so'that the flow of the contents therethrough is stopped. Each container 19 is thus normally positioned by reason of the spring member mounted between them. If it is desired to use the contents of one of the containers 19 all that it is necessary'to do is to tilt said container toward the handle against the action of the arm 18 of the spring.

'This causes the container to swing upwardly off its seat in the recess 12 and to swing in the form of an are thus freeing the port 21 from the bearing surface of the recess 12 and bringing said port 21 into register with the opening 13 in the base 10, thus permitting the'contents to flow through the port 21 and opening 13 as, will be seen from the left of Figure 2.

Referring to Figure 3 her'e is illustrated a container 28 formed with oppositely disposed bayonet slots 29 on its upper edge. A cap 30 provided with a stud 31 on opposite sides on its lower interior end is secured to the container by positioning said studs 31 in the slots 29 and giving the cap 30 a quarter turn. To remove the cap 30, it is turned in thereverse direction as will be understood. 7

An important feature of the present invention is means for agitating the contents of the container or facilitating the flow there'- of, comprising strips of steel or other suitable material having horizontal portions 24: se-

cured to the roof of the recess 11 by means of a screw 25 and having upwardly bent vertical portions 26 provided with outstruck' prongs 27. It will be noted that the vertical portions 26 of the agitator member extends upwardly through the port 13 and the opening 21 into the interior of the container 19. While I the hand by which it have illustrated and described an agitating device consisting of ahorizontal portion and a vertical portion it Will be understood that other forms of agitators may be used and instead of a substantially vertical portion the' portion extending into the interior of the container may be disposed at an acute angle to the horizontal portion or COI'IIPIISG. several angularly disposed portions. As Will be understood any movement of the container 19 toward the handle 14 will bring the contents of said container into contact with the prongs 27 of the agitating member, resulting in said prongs cuttingttheir way throughsaid contents especially if said contents has become hard due to weather conditions. I

,In operation, the device is'picked up by inserting one finger of the hand in through of the invention and I desire-tolbe limited only by the state of the prior art and the appended claims. V p a i I claim:

1. Adispensing device comprising a perforated base, a pair of perforatedcontainers mova'bly mountedon said base anda spring member disposed between said containers for normally keeping said perforations out of-alignnient and for permitting saidperforations to be moved into alignment 'and to preventlateral rocking of saidcontainers.

2. A dispensing device comprising a perforated base, a handle mounted on said base,

a spring including a pair of arms carried by said handle, a container carried byeach of said arms, each of said containers provided with an opening. said springbeing so positioned to normally keepsaid perforations and openings out of alignment and to permit said openings to register with said perforations.

3. A dispensing device comprisln-g a perforated base, a bifurcated handle mounted on. .said base, a spring memberextending between the bifurcated portions of said handle and including a; pair nth-1111s,- a container carried by each of said arms, each of said containers provided with an opening, the

arms of said spring "being so positioned as to normally keep sa-ld perforations and openings out of alignment and to permit said openings to registerwith said perforations. 4. A dispensing device comprising a per-' forated base, a pairof containersimovably mounted thereon, each of said containers formed with an opening, said; openings of alignment with the perforations in the base and a strip of steel provided with prongs mounted in each of said. containers and positioned centrally thereof to permit relative movement therebetween for agitating the contents thereof.

5. .A dispensingdevice comprising a perforated base, said baseformed with .a-recess;

on each side thereof communicating with said perforations, an upstanding handle provided With bifurcated ends mounted between'said recesses, a pin extending'between. said bifurcated ends, a spring member carried by said pin including a pair of arms, a container carried by each of said 'arms,each .of said conadapted to be selectively moved into a-ndgout tainers provided with an opening in its bottom end and each of said containers normally 1 adapted to seat in said recesseswith: the opening insaid containerout of alignmentwith. the perforation in said base, said spring arms being so positioned soasto permit said cont ainers to be swung ofl'their seat and to bring their openings and the perforationsinthe base into alignment. and a prongedstripof steel mounted in each of said containers to.

agitate the contents'thereof. i 6. A dispensingdevice comprising a perforated base, a bifnrcate'd'handle mounted on said base, a spring member extending be, tween the bifurcated ends of. said handle,

including a pair of arms, containers carried v p by each of said arms. each of said containers provided with an opened upper end and a 1 port in the bottom end, and a cap. forclosing.

the upper ends of said containers removably mountedon said container. through a slot stud connection.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto affix: my signature. 1 i QHARLES W. HARTWIGQ 

